Phonographic recording and reproducing machine.



T. A. EDISON. PHONQGRAPHIO RECORDING AND REPRODUGING MACHINE,

I APPLICATION FILED MAR 16,1907 939,992 Patented Nov. 16. 1909 t .r' I .15 11.9

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i zvzug UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EiJIsoN, oF'LLEwEnLY- yARK, oBANGI-i, NEW JERSEY.

PHdNOG-BAZE'HIG nncormxivo ,Aflp nnrnonocnvo MACHINE.

'1 b all whom it may concewt;

:\ citizen of the United States, and a resident of Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the county of Essex and ptate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lhonographic Recording and Reproducing )lechanism, of which the following is a description.

In an application for Letters Patent Serial No. 362,597 filed on even date herewith, 1 describe and claim certain improvements in phonographic recordin and re reducing mechanism, in which I ma e use 0 a vibrating piston which connects with the stylus lever and wherein an independenttension device is employed for maintaining the stylus in engagement with the recording or record surface. I point out in said application the advantages of a vibrating ist011 as compared to a diaphragm, and illustrate two specific forms of devices embodying the new improvements, one form, specifically claimed therein, employing a compensating weight so thatthe fulcrum of the stylus lever will be always maintained in proper relation to the record surface notwithstanding median-- ieal variations or eecentricities therein, and the other employing no compensating weight 'as may be done if the surface is fairly true. I propose in the present application. to describe and claim the device embodying the said improvements in which the compensats in weight is dispensed with. y

n the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification-Figure '1 is a ver tical sectional view of a reproducing mechanism embodyin myjmprovements; Fig. 2, a bottom view 0 .the same, and Fig.- 3, a de tail view of the hinge connection between the stylus lever and the casing.

In the above views corresponding parts,

1 is a passa e 4 which connects with the usual horn. he'piston 3 is made preferably of metallic magnesium so as to be as li ht as possible, and is formed with a convexe corrugated main ,portion, with a depending flantge 5 as shown, and preferably with tl1ree 1 or our radial ribs 6, cemented in 'place, .so. as to'be' very sti fi. It fits very clpselywith Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial No. 362,596.

; in but not touch the bore 2 (say within Be it known that I, THOMAS ALvA EDISON, i

.0005 of an inch) so that it. vibrates freely but practically no opportunity is ofl'ered for loss of air pressure around its edges. Connected with the center of "the piston 3 is a light magnesium oraluminum tube 6 which is guided by bearings in the casing and in a. bridge piece'7, so as'to center the piston within the bore 2. The lower end of the tube 6 is connected to the stylus lever 9 by means of a very flexible steel band BWhic passes around the curved end of the stylus lever and is'insertecl and firmly held in a slot 9 therein. The tendency of the spring 8 to straighten out maintains the parts in a state of tension. The stylus" lever 9 is fulcrumedwithin the depending lug or finger 10,-securedto the casing l by a swivel connection at screw 10 as sh own, so as to permit the stylus 11 totraek therecord even when the grooveis slightly out of line as is generally the case under commercial conditions. v

A; spring 12 is connected to the upper end of the tube 6' so as to keep the stylus always in engagement withwthe record or recording surface. 7 Since the piston '3, as compared to a diaphragm,- is capable of movements of relatively enormous amplitude, the spring 1:2, will keep-the stylus inits proper engagetion or rattling of the parts. -The stylus 11 is mounted on the lever preferably nearer its fulcrum than is the free end ofjthe lever,

so thatihe vibrations of the-stylus will be correspondingly am lified at the piston, and the latter can there ore be vibrated through a relatively great amplitnde so fis' to obta n loud reproductions.

Having nowdescribed my invention, what I claim as new'andidcssire to'secure by Letters Pate'nt,jis as follows: p

1. In phonographic recording or. re ro- 'ducing apparatus, the combination wit a casing, a. vibratiug p ston freely movable therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a] stylus m ntedthereon, connections between the said lever and. one face of the gt'uon, and a spring device attached to the (it er face of the piston and the casing for maintaining thestylus in engagement with he recording or record surIace, substantially as 'set forth. 2. 1n phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus,'the combination with a Easing, a vibrating piston freely movable therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a stylus thereon, connections between the stylus lever and the'p'iston including a tension device, a second tension device for maintaining the stylus in engagement with the recording or record surtace, and means for adjusting the latter tension device, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. '3. In phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, wvibrating piston freely movable thereln, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a stylus thereon at one side of the pivot, connections between the stylus lever on the other side of the pivot and the piston, and maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record surface, and adjusting means for the tension device, a tension device exerting upward strcsson the piston and through said connections on the end of the stylus lever remote from the stylus, and thus maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record surface, substantially as set forth.

4. In phonograpl'iic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, a vibrating piston fre'ely movable Jersey, for an improvement in Machines,

vvith the record surface,

follows Page 2, lines 2629, the words Signed and sealedthis 14th day of December, A .D., 1909. I

therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot,

a swivel for said pivot, a stylus on the stylus lever, connections between the lever and piston, and a tension device mounted above the said piston and exerting an upward pull on the same, for n aintaining the stylus in engagement with the record orrecording surface, substantially as set forth.

5. In phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, a vibrating piston freely movable .lherein, a stylus lever havinga fixed pivot and having a curved forward end, a stylus mounted on the stylus lever near its other end, a spring encircling the curved end of the stylus lever, and secured to the stylus lever and to the piston, and a tension device for maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record or recording surface, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. As a new manufacture, a vibrating piston for phonographic recording ,or reproducing apparatus made of sheet metal, formed with a corrugated convexed body and with its periphery turned down all It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 939,992, granted November 16,

1909, upon the application of Thomas'A. Edison, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, New

Phonographic Recording and Reproducing an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as and maintaining'the stylus in engagement and adjusting means for the tension device, should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the, same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

o. o. BILLINGS,

therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a] stylus m ntedthereon, connections between the said lever and. one face of the gt'uon, and a spring device attached to the (it er face of the piston and the casing for maintaining thestylus in engagement with he recording or record surIace, substantially as 'set forth. 2. 1n phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus,'the combination with a Easing, a vibrating piston freely movable therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a stylus thereon, connections between the stylus lever and the'p'iston including a tension device, a second tension device for maintaining the stylus in engagement with the recording or record surtace, and means for adjusting the latter tension device, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. '3. In phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, wvibrating piston freely movable thereln, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot, a stylus thereon at one side of the pivot, connections between the stylus lever on the other side of the pivot and the piston, and maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record surface, and adjusting means for the tension device, a tension device exerting upward strcsson the piston and through said connections on the end of the stylus lever remote from the stylus, and thus maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record surface, substantially as set forth.

4. In phonograpl'iic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, a vibrating piston fre'ely movable Jersey, for an improvement in Machines,

vvith the record surface,

follows Page 2, lines 2629, the words Signed and sealedthis 14th day of December, A .D., 1909. I

therein, a stylus lever having a fixed pivot,

a swivel for said pivot, a stylus on the stylus lever, connections between the lever and piston, and a tension device mounted above the said piston and exerting an upward pull on the same, for n aintaining the stylus in engagement with the record orrecording surface, substantially as set forth.

5. In phonographic recording or reproducing apparatus, the combination with a casing, a vibrating piston freely movable .lherein, a stylus lever havinga fixed pivot and having a curved forward end, a stylus mounted on the stylus lever near its other end, a spring encircling the curved end of the stylus lever, and secured to the stylus lever and to the piston, and a tension device for maintaining the stylus in engagement with the record or recording surface, substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. As a new manufacture, a vibrating piston for phonographic recording ,or reproducing apparatus made of sheet metal, formed with a corrugated convexed body and with its periphery turned down all It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 939,992, granted November 16,

1909, upon the application of Thomas'A. Edison, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, New

Phonographic Recording and Reproducing an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as and maintaining'the stylus in engagement and adjusting means for the tension device, should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the, same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

o. o. BILLINGS,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 939,992, granted November 16. 1909, upon the applieation of Thomas A.Edis()n, of Llewellyn Park, Orange, New Jersey, for an improvement in Phonographic Recording and Reproducing Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows} Page 2, lines 26-29, the words and maintaining the stylus in engagement. with the record surfare, and adjusting means for the tension device, should he stm'eken out; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of December, A. D., 1909.

0'. e. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

